December 15: Holidays, Historical Events, Famous Birthdays & Zodiac Sign
On this day in 1970, the Venera 7 spacecraft achieved the unprecedented feat of making the first successful soft landing on the surface of Venus.
Quick Facts for December 15
- Zodiac sign: Sagittarius
- Day of year: 349
About December 15
December 15 serves as a profound milestone in the history of human liberty and law. In 1791, the United States Bill of Rights officially became law following its ratification by the Virginia General Assembly, establishing the fundamental protections that define American citizenship. This spirit of documentation is echoed in 1836, when a devastating fire at the U.S. Patent Office destroyed nearly ten thousand original patent records and thousands of physical models.
Beyond the halls of government, the day has seen remarkable scientific and cultural leaps. While the Soviet Union pushed the boundaries of the cosmos with its Venusian landing, the world of music was being transformed; in 1893, Antonín Dvořák’s legendary "New World Symphony" was given its first public rehearsal at Carnegie Hall. Whether through the expansion of civil rights or the exploration of distant planets, December 15 remains a cornerstone of human progress.
Holidays & Observances on December 15
- Bill of Rights Day (United States) 2nd Amendment Day (South Carolina)
- Homecoming Day (Alderney)
- Kingdom Day (Netherlands), moves to December 16 if the 15th is on a Sunday
- Zamenhof Day (International Esperanto Community)
- World Turkic Language Family Day (UNESCO)
Fun & National Days on December 15
- Cat Herders' Day — Celebrate the impossible task of organization by relaxing with your feline friends.
- International Jewish Book Day — Get lost in a meaningful story and honor the power of literature.
- International Tea Day — Take a moment to pause and enjoy a perfectly brewed cup of tea.
- National Cupcake Day — Indulge your sweet tooth with a delicious, miniature frosted treat.
- National Gingerbread Latte Day — Warm up your afternoon with these spicy, seasonal coffee flavors.
- National Lemon Cupcake Day — Enjoy a bright and tangy citrus dessert to zest up your day.
- National Wear Your Pearls Day — Add a touch of classic elegance to your outfit today.
On This Day in History
- 533 — The Byzantine general Belisarius secured a victory over the Vandals, led by King Gelimer, during the Battle of Tricamarum.
- 1256 — Hulagu’s Mongol forces successfully breached and dismantled the Ismaili stronghold at Alamut Castle in present-day Iran.
- 1791 — The fundamental protections of the United States Bill of Rights were officially enacted after Virginia ratified them.
- 1836 — A massive fire nearly leveled the U.S. Patent Office, destroying almost ten thousand issued patent records.
- 1864 — The Battle of Nashville commenced, eventually leading to the total collapse of the Confederate Army of Tennessee.
- 1893 — Antonín Dvořák’s celebrated "New World Symphony" held its first public rehearsal at New York's Carnegie Hall.
- 1906 — London expanded its transit network with the opening of the Great Northern, Piccadilly and Brompton Railway.
- 1917 — A significant armistice was signed between the Russian government and the Central Powers during World War I.
- 1939 — The cinematic epic "Gone with the Wind" made its grand premiere at the Loew's Grand Theatre in Atlanta.
- 1965 — NASA's Gemini 6A mission launched, eventually achieving the very first space rendezvous with Gemini 7.
- 1970 — The Soviet Venera 7 probe successfully completed the first soft landing on the surface of Venus.
- 1973 — The American Psychiatric Association officially voted to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders.
Famous Birthdays on December 15
- 37 — Nero, The notorious and influential fourth emperor of the Roman Empire.
- 1832 — Gustave Eiffel, The iconic French engineer best known for designing the Eiffel Tower.
- 1852 — Henri Becquerel, A Nobel Prize-winning French physicist who discovered radioactivity.
- 1859 — L. L. Zamenhof, The Polish linguist who created the international language, Esperanto.
- 1892 — J. Paul Getty, An influential American-English businessman and renowned art collector.
- 1907 — Oscar Niemeyer, The legendary Brazilian architect responsible for designing the UN Headquarters.
- 1916 — Maurice Wilkins, The Nobel Prize-winning physicist who contributed to understanding DNA.
- 1923 — Freeman Dyson, A highly respected English-American mathematician and theoretical physicist.